Electric cut-out switch.



EATENTEE SEPT. 2C, 1905.

N. W. CEANDALE.

ELECTRIC CUT-CUT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 'T l i414 Wrmff PATENTED SEPT.y 26, 1905.

N. W. CRANDALL.

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN 1V. CRANDALL, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE PERKINS CORPORATION, OF HART- FORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 2c, 1905.

Application filed November 19, 1904. Serial No. 233,483.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN W. CRANDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric'Cut-Out Switches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the Egures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches, more particularly to that class which are commonly termed "cut-outs. In this device a boX or receptacle is employed into which a portable plug is inserted for the purpose of introducing into an electrical circuit any electric device (at a predetermined location) and in such a manner that it can be readily and easily withdrawn or cut out at will. These receptacles are located at frequent intervals along an electrical circuit-line to permit of the introduction and connection of portable plugs at any desirable points.

The object of this invention is to produce a simple, compact, durable, and efficient device of the character described which can be cheaply manufactured and which will be practically dust-proof, the perforations in the escutcheon or receptacle-cover,through which the portable plug' is inserted, being automatically sealed when the said terminal is withdrawn therefrom.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a device well calculated to carry out the spirit of my invention with the cover or escutcheonplate removed. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the portable plug. Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of Fig. 1, taken on line A A, the escutcheon-plate also being shown in position. Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section of Figs. 2. and 3, taken on line B B, the several parts being shown in the positions which they occupy when the portable plug is introducedinto the electrical circuit. Figzisaplan view ofthe escutcheonplate, the screws for securing the same in place and the movable intermediate contact members and their guides being shown in their normal positions. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the guide-post, showingI the annular recess or groove. A portion of the lower end of the post is broken away to illustrate the method of attaching the foot or base piece thereto, so as to produce a yielding connection. Fig. 7 is a plan of the part shown in Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a plan and cross-section of the foot or base piece of the guide-post shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a plan and side elevation of the stationary contact members or fixed terminals. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal elevation in section of Figs. 15 and 17 when in their engaged positions. Fig. 13 is a plan of the receptacle portion of the device with the cover or escutcheon-plate removed. Fig. 14: is a plan of the cover or escutcheon-plate, the attaching-screws and the movable contact member and its guide-post being also shown. Fig. 15 is a View in cross-section of the receptacle and its contained parts, the cover or escutcheon-plate being in position. Fig. 16 is a plan view of the portable plug with the handle removed to better expose the connected parts. Fig. 17 is a longitudinal section of the portable plug, taken on line X X, with the addition of a handle.-

Similar figures of reference apply to similar parts throughout the entire Views.

In the description of the figures from 1 to 11, inclusive, Sheet 1, I will limit the description to one of the units which go to make up the mechanism of the device, there being two such units required in each receptacle to make up a complete device.

l is a boX-like-shaped receptacle formed of any suitable insulating material. 2 represents holes or perforations through the bottom thereof for entrance of the main-line feedwires. (Notherein shown.) Sis the usual binding-post. 11 represents stationary terminals. 5 is a guide-post. 6 is the foot or base plate for the guide-post, which is secured to the fixed terminals A are secured to the bottom IOO of the receptacle by the screws 12. A link or shunt 13 is shown in dotted lines and is connected to the stationary terminals 4 by screws 12 passing' up through the bottom of the receptacle, all being shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. r1`hebinding-post 3 is directly connected to the stationary terminals 4. An ear 16 is secured to the top edge of the receptacle by the screw 17 and is offset, as shown at 18, the outer end formingatenon 19, which is provided with a screw-hole 2O for the passage of the screw 21, the said screw being used for securing the receptacle to the wooden framework or other structure to which it may be desirable to secure it. Theinner end of the ear projects inwardly into the path of travel of the vmovable contact member 8, as shown at 8. A cover or escutcheon-plate 22 is provided with mortises 23 and holes or perforations 24 and 25. The mortises 23 are so disposed as to register and fit over the tenons 19, thereby locating the perforations in the escutcheon-plate with relation to the internal operative mechanism. rlhe escutcheon-plate is held in place by the screws 26 being threaded into the ear 16. rEhe guide-post 5 is provided, preferably near its upper end, with a circumferential groove of reduced diameter1 27, for the purpose hereinafter specified. The lower end is reduced to a diameter slightly smaller than the body portion, as shown at 28, and the reduced portion is provided with a recess 29. rlhe center hole of the guidepost base-plate is tapered or beveled, being largest at its under side. The reduced portion 28 is passed through the base-plate and expanded. until it approximately fills the beveled hole. Ylt is not deemed desirable to rivet the parts firmly together, but rather to leave the joint loose, so that the post may adjust itself to any discrepancies in alinement of the working parts. The movable contact member 8 is provided withashoulder30 and a beveled face 31. The perforations 24 in the escutcheon-plate 22 are beveled or tapered, being largest on the inside of the plate, and the beveled face 31 of the cond uctory member 8 normally seats therein, the end face thereof being substantially flush with the outside face of the escutcheonplate, the spring 10 acting as a support to hold it in this position. r1`he inwardly-projecting end 8 of the ear 16 projects into the path of travel of the conductor-y member 8 and at a distance slightly above the shoulder 30 and is so arranged as to interrupt and stop the outward movement of the said conductory member when the escutcheon-plate is removed for any purpose whatsoever. The stationary terminals 4 are so placed that the distance between them is slightly less than the diameter 'of the conductory member 8, and their upper ends are so shaped as to spring outward and closely embrace the circumferential surface of the said conductor-y member when it is forced down between them. The insulatingstationary contacts by the action of the said spring. y

1n Fig. 2, 3Q is a body of non-conductive material. 33 is a tubular contact member provided with longitudin al slots 34, with strips between the slots formed inwardly to form a series of spring-jaws The tubular contact member is incased in a sleeve of insulating material 36. A screw 37 connects the tubular contact with the metal plate 38, to which one of the feed-wires 39 is connected. A guide 40 is secured in place on the non-conductive body portion and projects somewhat beyond the outer ends of the said tubular contact member.

A suitable case 41 incloses the body portion of the device, to which is attached a handle 42, having a hole longitudinally therethrough for the passage of the feed-wires 39 and 39.

The operationv of the device is as follows, any number of the boX-likereeeptacles being conveniently located and installed along a main-circuit line: An electric device is connected by feed-wires to the portable portion of the apparatus under consideration, which I term a portable plug. The electric device is then located at any convenient place in the vicinity of one of the receptacles and within the reaching distance of the feed-wires, and the guide 40 of the portable plug is inserted into the perforation 25 in the escutcheonplate, and an inward movement carries the tubular contact members 33 into end contact with the movable contact members 8 and also into sliding contact with the guide-posts 5, and a continued movement thereof coactively recedes the said conductory member 8 farther within the receptacle and along the guide-post 5 and into contact with the stationary terminals 4, thus establishing an electrical contact. The portable plug is held in its position in the receptacle by the clamping action of the spring-jaws 35 about its reduced portion or the recess 27 of the guide-post 5. As will be well understood, when the portable plug is withdrawn from the receptacle the helical springs 10 will act to force the conductory members 8 from between the stationary terminals 4 (thereby breaking the contact) and along the guide-posts 5 and to their seats in the perforations 2 in the eseutcheon-plate.

ln Sheet 2, 42/ is a non-conductive receptacle. 43 is a metallic escutcheon-plate having a central opening 44 therein. Ears 45 are attached to the receptacle and serve to secure the escuteheon-plate in place and to hold the movable contact member in place when the escutcheon-plate is removed in the same manner as the one illustrated in the device hereinbefore described. 46 is a stationary guide- IOS IIO

'post secured in and extending' upward from the bottom of the receptacle and terminating central of the opening' 44 and iiush with the face of the escutcheonplate 43. Bindingposts 47 are secured within and to the bottom of the said receptacle. Stationary terminals 48 are also located within and secured to the bottoni of the said receptacle equidistant from the guide-post and are connected to the binding-post 47. A non-conductive sliding member 49 is mounted upon the guide-post 46 and is held normally against the escutcheon-plate by the helical spring 50. Metallic contactpieces 5l are secured to opposite sides of the said sliding member in any well-known and approved manner. rlhe sliding member 49 is held from turning by an irregular shape given to the guide-post, the hole in said sliding member being made to tit thesame loosely or slidingly. The top of the guide-post is provided with a reduced portion for the purpose of affording' holding or locking means for the portable plugin a manner which will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. The portable plug comprises a body portion 52, composed of non-conductive material. A non-conductive sleeve 53 is secured to the body portion 52. Contact-pieces 54 are attached thereto and a sleeve 55, of insulating material, incases the same. The outside diameter of the sleeve 55 is somewhat less than the diameter of the opening' 44. A metallic sleeve 56, having spring-jaws 57, is secured inside the sliding member 49 and adapted to lit slidingly on the guide-post 46, the springjaws 57 being adapted to clasp the reduced neck portion of the said guide-post. Bindingposts 58 are located on the upper face of the body portion 52 and are connected to the contact-pieces 54, and lead-wires 59, connecting an electric device, are secured thereto. A case 60 incloses the body portion of the device, and a handle 61,having a passage therethrough for the passage of the lead-wires, is secured thereto.

The operation of the device being identical with the one hereinbefore described, further description is deemed unnecessary.

That I claim isl. In an electric cut-out switch in combination, a non-conductive receptacle provided with an escutcheon-plate, having a perforation therethrough, stationary terminals within said receptacle, a movable contact member in said receptacle and normally seated in said perforation, and independent external means for engaging and coactively receding said contact mem ber within the receptacle and into contact with said stationary terminals.

2. In an electric cut-out switch in combination, a non-conductive receptacle provided with an escutcheon-plate, havingl a perforationtherethrough, stationary terminals within said receptacle, a movable contact member in said receptacle and normally seated in said perforation, a portable plug adapted to pass through said perforation and coactively recede the conductory member within the receptacle and into contact with said stationary terminals. l

3. In an electric cut-out switch in combination, a non-conductive receptacle provided with an escutcheon-plate, having a perforation therethrough, stationary terminals within the receptacle, a movable contact member in said receptacle and normally seated in said perforation, means within the receptacle for restricting and guiding the movement of said conductory member when coactively moved into contact with the stationary terminals by the action of a portable plug when introduced into the receptacle through the perforated escutcheon.

4. In an electric cut-out switch in combination, a non-conductive receptacle provided with a perforated escutcheon-plate, stationary terminals within said receptacle, a movable contact member within said receptacle and normally seated in said perforation, a guide in said receptacle to direct the movement of the conductory member and extending through the perforation in said escutcheon, and terminating substantially iiush with the face thereof, a portable plug adapted to engage and coactively move the contact member into contact with the stationary terminals within the receptacle, and means for automatically restoring the said conductory member to its normal position when the portable plug is withdrawn.

5. In an electric cut-out switch incombination, a non-conductive receptacle provided with a perforated escutcheon-plate, stationary terminals within said receptacle a movable contact member within said receptacle and normally seated in said perforation, its outer face being' substantially flush with the face of said escutcheon-plate, a guide in said receptacle, for said contact member, extending through said perforation and terminating substantially iush with the face thereof, a portable plug adapted to pass through said perforation, and coactivel y move said conductory member into Contact with said stationary terminals, and means for restricting and guiding' the movement of said portable plug in its passage through the perforated escutcheonplate.

6. In an electric cut-out switch in combination, a non-conductive receptacle provided with a perforated escutcheon-plate, stationary terminals in said receptacle, a movable contact member in said receptacle and seated in said perforation, a yielding guide in said receptacle for said movable contact, a portable plug' adapted to pass through said perforation and coactively move said movable contact into contact with said stationary terminals, said portable plug being provided with means for retainingl and locking the same in its applied position, a spring in said recep- IOO IIO

tacle arranged to operate upon the movable contact to restore it to its normal positionwhen the portable plug is Withdrawn.

7. In an electric cut-out switch, a non-conductive receptacle provided with a perforated escutcheon-plate, stationary terminals in said receptacle, a guide-post in said receptacle eX- tending into the perforation of the escutchecn-plate, and terminating substantially flush with the surface thereof, a movable Contact member slidingly mounted upon said guidepost, and a helical spring encircling said guidepost adapted to hold said movable contact member against the action of the plate.

8. In an electric cut-out switch in combination, 'a non-conductive receptacle provided with a perforated escutcheon-plate, stationary terminals in said receptacle, a movable contact member in said receptacle and seated in a perforation in said escutcheon, a spring in said receptacle arranged to normally hold said conductory member ag'ainst the said escutcheon-plate, a portable plug provided with a guide-bar adapted to register with, and pass through a perforation in said escutcheon, and to move with, and guide said terminal in its passage through the perforated escutcheonplate to coactively move the said movable contact member into contact with the stationary terminals.

9. In an electric cut-out switch in combination, a non-conductive receptacle provided with an escutcheon-plate, having' perforations therethrough, stationary terminals in said receptacle, yielding guides in said receptacle, movable contact members slidably mounted on said guides and normally seating in, and closing certain of the said perforations in the escutcheon-plate, aspringin said receptacle to hold said conductory member in its normal position, a portable plug having tubular contact members, adapted to pass through the perforations in said escutcheonplate and make contact with the slidable Contact members and their guide-posts.

10. In an electric cut-out-switch mechanism in combination a translatable terminal comprising a handle portion, a body portion insulated tubular contact members and a guiding member.

11. In combination, aportable plug', aliandle therefor, tubular contacts carried by the plug, said contacts being provided with an exterior cover of insulating material, springjaws within the tubular contacts, a receptacle having perforations through which the tubular contacts are adapted to pass, stationary contacts within the receptacle movable contacts Within the receptacle, and guides for the movable contacts, said guides being also adapted to be engaged by the tubular contacts of the plug.

1Q. In combination, a receptacle, stationary contacts therein, a cover for the receptacle having apertures located above the stationary contacts, guide-posts Within the receptacle beneath the apertures, said posts having portions reduced in diameter, movable contact members slidable on the guide-posts and normally seated in the perforations of the receptacle-cover, a portable plug, contact members carried by the plug adapted to pass through the openings of the cover and coactively recede the movable contact member into contact With the stationary contacts, and jaws carried by the contact members of the plug for engaging' the reduced diameter of the guide-posts.

13. In combination with a device of the character described, a receptacle, a cover therefor, movable contacts Within the receptacle having their movement limited by the cover, and means for limiting the movement of the contacts when the cover is removed.

14. In combination with a device of the character described, a receptacle, a cover therefor, movable contacts Within the receptacle having their movement limited by the cover and ears on the receptacle adapted to limit the movement of the contacts when the cover is removed.

15. In combination with adevice of the character described, a receptacle, a cover therefor, movable contacts therein adapted to bear normally against the cover and means for holding the contacts in their normal position.

16. In combination With a device of the character described, a receptacle, a cover therefor, guide-posts therein, contacts slidable on the posts and adapted to bear normally against the cover and means for holding the contacts in their normal position.

17. In combination with adevice ofthe character described, a receptacle, a cover therefor, guide-posts therein, contacts slidable on the posts and adapted to bear normally against the cover and springs embracing the posts and holding the contacts in their normal positions.

18. In combination With a device of the character described, a receptacle, a cover therefor, guide-posts therein, contacts slidable on the posts and adapted to bear normally against the cover, springs embracing the posts and holding the contacts in their normal positions, and means for insulating the springs.

19. In combination with a device of the character described, a receptacle, a cover therefor, guide-posts therein, contacts slidable on the posts and adapted to bear normally against the cover, springs embracing the posts and holdingthe contacts in their normal positions, and means carried by the contacts for insulating the springs.

20. In combination With adevice of the character described, a receptacle, a cover therefor, guide-posts therein, contacts slidable on the posts and adapted to bear normally against the cover, springs embracing the posts and IOO IIO

holding the contacts in their normal positions and sleeves of insulating material carried by the contacts surrounding the springs.

21. In combination, a receptacle, stationary contacts therein, movable contacts Within the receptacle, guides for the contacts, a portable plug adapted to contact with and to force the movable contacts into contact with the stationary contacts, and means carried by the plugt'or gripping' the guides ot' the movable contacts.

22. In combination, a receptacle, stationary contacts therein, movable contacts Within the receptacle, guides for the contacts, a portable plug adapted to contact with and to force the movable contacts into contact with the stationary contacts, and spring-jaws carried by the plug for engaging' the guides of the movable contacts.

23. In combination, a receptacle, guides therein, contacts movable on the guides, stationary contacts and a plug' for forcing the movable contacts into engagement with the stationary contacts, the guides of the movable contacts acting' as a guide for the plug.

24. In combination, a non-conductive receptacle, provided with a perforated escutcheonplate, stationary terminals within said receptacle, a movable contact member within said receptacle and normally seated in said perforation, a guide in said receptacle to direct the movement of the contact member and extending through the perforation inthe escutcheonplate and terminatingsubstantially flush with the face thereof, a spring for holding said contact member in its normal position and a portable plug adapted to engage and coactively move the contact with the stationary terminals within the receptacle.

25. In combination, a receptacle, guideposts Within the receptacle, movable contacts on the posts, stationary contacts within the receptacle, and a hollow plug adapted to lit over the guide-posts and force the movable contacts into engagement with the stationary contacts.

26. In combination, a receptacle, guideposts within the receptacle, movable contacts on the posts, stationary contacts Within the receptacle, a hollow plug adapted to lit over the guide-posts and force the movable contacts into engagement with the stationary contacts, and means within the plug engaging the posts to hold the plug on the posts.

27. In combination, a receptacle, guideposts within the receptacle, movable contacts on the posts, stationary contacts within the receptacle, a hollow plug adapted to [it over the guide-posts and force the movable contacts into engagement with the stationary contacts, springs within the plug engaging the posts to hold the plug on the posts.

28. In combination a receptacle, guideposts within the receptacle, movable contacts on the posts, stationary contacts within the receptacle, a hollow plug adapted to tit over the guide-posts and force the movable contacts into engagement with the stationary contacts, said plug being slotted to form means to engage the posts to hold the plug on the posts.

29. In combination, a receptacle, guideposts in the receptacle, each having a portion reduced, contacts movable on the posts, stationary contacts Within the receptacle, a hollow plug to fit over the posts adapted to force the movable contacts into engagement with the stationary contacts, and means carried by the plug to engage the reduced portion of the posts t0 hold the plug on said posts.

In testimony whereof I ailiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NATHAN W. CRANDALL.

Iitnessesz H. H. WALKLEY, H. B. HOWARD. 

